The Fort Des Moines Museum & Education Center was built to honor the first officer class of African-American men of 1917 and the establishment of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.

Project Overview

This was one of the first projects for which I was charged with the task of designing and producing the graphics. It was a great honor to have a hand in telling the story of the first black Army officers and the pioneering Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. The finished exhibit strikes balance between a memorial and an interactive/educational exhibit.

Finished Exhibits

An introductory graphic, above, locates the visitor, explains the purpose of the museum and invites further exploration.

This artifact case and this mural act as a transition between the Interwar Gallery and the WWII Gallery. The WWII Gallery focuses on the contributions of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.

This audio-visual exhibit speaks to the experience of WAAC enlistees.

African-American officers influenced, and were influenced by, the French musical culture. This interactive exhibit, above, plays samples of compositions created by officers who spent time in France during WWI.

Contact

About

Gene has spent his career focused on designing for the built environment; crafting exhibits, signage and communications to improve the experiences people have while moving through the world.

While working as a staff designer for an exhibit fabricator and a wayfinding design studio, Gene crafted solutions for a range of environmental design challenges. Using an open and responsive design process, Gene guided clients to great outcomes; telling rich stories and simplifying complex environments.

As a design consultant Gene takes pride in his pragmatic and collaborative approach to problem solving. His clients appreciate the solutions he creates as well as the process he directs.

Testimonials

"It was a delight to work with Gene Ullery-Smith. Not only is he the most talented graphic designer I have worked with, he went above and beyond to guide an inexperienced Detroit Historical Society staff through an overwhelming exhibit design project. Gene was excellent at communicating, and kept me on track throughout the process.” – Tobi Voigt, Detroit Historical Society

“Gene juggled design development of several exhibitions simultaneously and was still able to create a unique identity for each gallery while keeping them connected by a common visual thread. Each design choice was purposeful.” – Tracy Irwin, Detroit Historical Society, Director of Exhibitions and Collections

“I so appreciate Gene. I particularly appreciate that Gene is both creative and talented AND can do a project quickly. I've always believed that the best designers were those who could think fast on their feet. Gene is further proof of that.” – Ruth Steele Walker, Due North Communications

"As we handed out business cards … mine stood out like a flower in a coal pile."

“We have received lots of positive feed back. I knew you were the right person for the job!” – Bart Heil, City of Midland Parks Director

“The books are outstanding, as expected. I can’t thank you enough for your time, energy and expertise in guiding us through this project!” – Midland Area Community Foundation